METRO HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Posted: Sunday, April 18, 1999

Palo Duro 11, Borger 1 The Palo Duro Dons staked starter Mike Hutcherson to an early lead, and he made it stand up as streaking Palo Duro downed Borger by the 10-run rule in District 3-4A action at Palo Duro.

Palo Duro blew open the game with six runs in the second inning, building a 7-0 lead. Palo Duro batted around in that second inning, with Brandon Wright, Ricky Acosta, Shane Carter, Victor Perales and Jonathon Roys each connecting for hits. The Bulldogs committed two errors.

Once with the lead, Hutcherson struck out five, walked one and scattered six hits for the complete-game win, his first of the season.

The Dons (8-10, 3-3), who moved into a three-way tie for second place, will travel to Hereford on Tuesday. Borger (6-13, 3-3) will hosts Caprock on Tuesday.

Tascosa 9, Monterey 8 Tascosa shortstop Wade Hansford hit his fourth double of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Tascosa Rebels to a District 3-5A win against the Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen.

Hansford's double scored Jason Edwards, who had singled with one out. Zach Blake grounded out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning, but Michael Moore was intentionally walked, and Michael Batenhorst drew a walk that loaded the bases for Hansford. He promptly belted a double off the center-field wall.

Matt Lankford ran his record to 5-1.

Tascosa (16-7 overall) moved into second place at 5-3 in district. The Rebels host Amarillo High Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Right fielder John Adams led Monterey (9-12-1, 2-6) with three doubles.

Randall 15, Levelland 14 The Randall Raiders erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning to edge the Levelland Lobos in a wild District 4-4A game.

The big blow in the sixth was a pinch-hit single by Dustin Crossley that drove in two runs. The Raiders hit three homers in the game. Third baseman Jerad Watson hit his sixth homer of the season, shortstop Deon Soria hit his fifth, and Brandon Baldwin hit his first. Soria led the Raiders with three hits.

Brent Cerka ran his record to 7-1 after relieving Todd Betzen.

The Raiders moved into a tie for first place with Lubbock Estacado at 5-1 in district. Levelland fell to 3-4 and 12-7-1.

River Road 6, S-Fritch 2 Adam King limited the Sanford-Fritch Eagles to seven hits, and the River Road Wildcats retained sole possession of second place in the District 1-3A race.

River Road improved to 5-2 in 1-3A play and 12-6-1 overall. Sanford-Fritch fell to 2-4 and 7-7.

King, who improved to 6-3, also hit a double. River Road right fielder Marcus Liedtke also doubled, and center fielder Mitch Grider singled and tripled. Shortstop Golden Littlefield singled twice and scored two runs for the Wildcats.

The Sandies, losing their fifth consecutive district game, trailed 10-1 entering the top of the seventh inning. AHS sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring all six runs with two outs. Drew Dutton collected a two-run double during the rally. But Coronado reliever Michael Branum struck out Travis Jones with runners at first and second and ended the Sandie comeback.

AHS, which left nine runners on base, dropped to 3-5 in district.

Rob Smith drove in five runs and collected four hits, including an inside-the-park homer, for Coronado, which retained sole possession of first place at 6-2 improved to 20-6 overall.